Method of smelting ores and separating mattes.



No. 830,040. PATENTBD SEPT. 4, 1900.

R. BAGGALBY, 0. 00, ALLEN & E. w. 100000101".

METHOD OF SHELTING ORES AND SEPARATING MATTES.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1905. RENEWED JAN.13. 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

no.83;0,o40. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. R. BAGGALBY. c. M. A'L'LEN & E. w. LINDQUIST.

METHOD OF SMELTING ORES AND SEPARATING MATTES.

APPLIGATIOH FILED I'EBJ, 1905. RENEWED JAN. 13.1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES: INVENTORS dwa 0a wamwwgu. M1 6"? No. 830,040. PATENTED $131 14, 1900' R. BAGGALEY, 0. M. ALLEN & E. w. LINDQUIST. METHOD OF SMELTING 005s AND SEPARATING MATTES.

APPLICATION TILED FEBJ, 1905. RENEWED JAIT.13.1906.

6 SHEETSSHEIIT 3.

K 0 1NVENTOR$ 11M 4 41M! 45% 1M 40. $1

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED SEPT 4, 1906. R. BAGGALEY, G. M. ALLEN & B. W. LINDQUIST. METHOD OF SMELTING ORES AND SEPARATING MATTES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1905. nnxnwrm JAN. is. 1906.

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No. 830,040. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. R. BAGGALBY, 0. M. ALLEN & E. W. LINDQUIST. METHOD OF SMELTING ORES AND SBPARATING MATTES.

APPLICATION FILED PERI. 1905. RENEWED JAN.13. 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES No. 830,040. 4 PATENTED SEPTQL 1906.

R. BAGGALEY, O. M. ALLEN & E. W. LINDQUIST. METHOD OF SMBLTING ORBS AND SEPARATING MATTES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.1,1905. RENEWED J'AN.13. 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6 3 M A r INVENTOR W l T N E85 ES WMOLLWV baa/WM 1,06%?

METHQD F To all whom it may conccrm I Be it kiiowntlist WQ,RALPI1 BAGGALEY, of

Pittshurg, Alleglie :13; county, Pennsylvania,

CHARLES iii. Arms, of Lo Lo, lvlissouls county, iiiiorrtans, mid Emmirw W. ism

QUEST, of Qhicogo, {look county, lllinois, lmw're invented a new and useful Method of Smelt ne' Ores and Separating Mottos, of Wl ich l i lowing" is a full, clear, and exact descr1ption, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specificstion, in which Fi ure 1 represents a. cross-section of a rsuita 1e converter in which to practice our r 5 invention, it being a cross-section oii the line '1 I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal cross-section on the line H H of Fig, 1,

together with the blast inlct pipryhydrsuliw ,power mechanism for tilting the vessel, the overflow'spont for the continuous discharge of slag and matte, the practically air-tigl1t protco'l' g cover for the slag and matte during their fall into the forehesrth, and portion of the forelicsrth itself. 3 represcnts one end elevation of the vessel with the "hydraulic mechanism in section. 4. represents one side elevation of the vessel, in order to show the air-inlet, Wind-box, and converting twycrs, as Well as the protected 509.1161 matte overflow and a portion or the lorelieartli. Fig. 5 illustrates the rolling metal door, through wliiicli the over low-scout ms from time to tin'ic so emrmiried and, if nccessar roddcd by the operator. Fig. 5 repre- 5 Ifsents in plain View tlic hoary bolted door or iiid that covers the orifice, in the vessel, Idirough which converter slags are delivered in the molten form for the purpose of cxtrscifi 1 ing their contained minors: values. Fig. 7 0 represents the converter in 0nd elevation owl the hopper for the delivery of nnl'usr V there/into. Fig. 8 is s transverse soction of the converter, showing refractory lining.

The objects of our invention may lmlarielly stated as follows: first, to utilize a prinmry bath in the. new method oi recovering values from ores by dissolving in s molten both, de-

scribed in United States Patent No. 766.654, issucd August 2, 1904; second, to alisoi'bmid 5o conserve the heat produced by the converting process; "third, to operate continuously and practically Without repairs to the apparatus; iamrili, to pro do a ooritiimcits S ce-coloration of Letters I-stent.

Borrowed January 13, 1906.

Patented Sept.

sum it). 295,95

smelting that will utilize for fool purpos""' the volatile portion.contained in all sollid ores; fifth. to provide a jirietliod olfsrncltin g that renders unnecessary the use ol' :3 biasf'ums-oc with its heavy ooosmriptio of or other czu'brmsccous col and it mous perccntoges oi loss of the Yolot r cor tics. of ores under lira-truest, which i i are sbsolut-cl: iDSDPiMilJlQ from iilfisimllillltlfi practice of every kind; sixth, to provide a mcthod of pyritic smelting tlmt rondors un' necessary the uso of n hot blast tlmt has been heated with carbonaceous fool. To that and We preferably utilize apparatus such as that illustrated. in the drawings, sltlroug'li appsmtus of other co11struction-such, for instance, ss Water or air jzickotod appnratuc-- may lOG utilized Without dcpsrting from the spirit of our invention.

Rsfcrring now to the drawings, 2 in Fig. 1 represents the body or the convcrtor. Wnicli in cross-section is preferably the segment of a circle, preferably about eighteen inches in illll( jlilltss. We: prefer to usc bloc-ks of cumin, steel, wrought-iron, or cast-iron for this purposc; but other metals may lie uscd.

3 illustrates tho tWyor-liolc for ills critrance of the comertiog-blssl, it is prciiorably lined with seamless brass tubing 3 in. order that when worn by the action oi the PEHH'lIlHg-bHYS it may be readily and clieopl replaced. This converter is shown with lmrc metal Walls; but it should lie siuiplcmcntcd with a refractory lining 3, as illustrated. in. Fig. 8.

4 represents tlic removable top of the Iss scl, which is prcl'crably made of heavy solid n'ietalof suilicient thickness to successfully millistimzl lluxlimit.

5 reprosonts the reversible lie/s13" metal ring with which the top of the vessel is provided. The holes 5 for the bolts ormp screws that hold this ring in position made to rigistor accurately in order that ilw ring may be placed in many dili'ercntpositions in order to Withstand the cut-ting cll'cct of the molten motirl o1 matte Without renewsl 6 in Fig. 2 illustrates the charging; door or inlbtfor ores. I

- i Vst-srting the process a bath of molten motto, preferalili' dcrivcd from the simple melting;- ol" snl'lid ores, is provide-1i i um. on}

IC M

hut We prefer to provioe the bath with which the proce s started outside souce, beceu. liver into the 'essel or 4 free from silicious or aluininous shigs so one that entirely free from the nnents of carbonaceous fuel,

to c ishovfnthst i- ,4

o obs i olllCillOD. because it becomes i in non-conducting oxid coating this form it is ini'usihle. Al h i'nstte has l een charged into A St which preierahiy is r. hath dehustion. The escape of hot gases in this vessel will be choked, and for this reason the internal heat is retained to a great extent,.

thus materially aiding the process. ,Oie charges may be continuously or inteiinit teiitly fed into the hopper 16. Suchore charges are preferably preheated by Waste gases as a means of dry ng out the moisture contained in them and for the purpose of proportionately increasing the melting capecity of the vessel.

The converter, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is six feet in diameter and twenty feet long. It is provided with thirty-two blast tivycrs,

1 each one and one-fourth inches in diameter.

" s the ore charges enter at the orifice tllO-j/ drop onto a birth of hot metre on which they i'ioet and are dissolved during their travel to were the point of discharge. in nmrkcd contrast with this practice all past export meets in 'pyritic smelting have invariably on conducted in shaft-furnaces with ore columns and with certain percentages oi cerhoneceois li e as the melting" medium. Two things 0.553111 in connection with pyritic smelting in a shaft-furnace. First, the combustion of coke or other carbonaceous fuel is reducing in its action, and this in conflict With the oxygen of the blast; second, the volatile portion oi the suliid ores is distilled, released, and escapes through the stock before the zone of actual fusion in the furnace reached. lnour resent invention by subniersionin a hot ath we etch. and retain this volatile atom for'use as iucl, and this has the effect oi increasing by our present invention the fuel value of all sullid ores treated by more than sixty-six per centunzi over thet or" all past experimenters.

it is intended that the enteringblast shell he so great that at least a. portion of its shove stated, from c. simple melting;

. oxygen will pass unconsumed through the molten bath and act as an oxidizing agent on the iioatiiig ore charge ,before the same has been dissolved. By this means we prole the equivalent of a hot blast Without sees for carbonaceous fuel in preheating The ore-feed is purposely regulated so the undissolved layer cannot sink to any great depth in the molten hath. Care is taken that the ore charges shall be fed into the vessel in such a manner and in such small amount at one time that an orc column cannot build up on the bottom of the vessel. In fact, the orcdeed is arranged so that the floatlayer cennotat any time approach near to the level of the converting-twyers.

It is a Well-known fact that slags are already oxidized compounds and that an air-blast delivered iiito any oxid is chilling in its effect. This is one reason that many attempts at pyritic smelting in shaft-furnaces have resulted in failure, because the chilling eil'ect of the entering blast acting on the mingled ore, flux, and fuel, together With the enornie is proportion of slag, soon solidifies the chm s in the furnace.

From the point at which the ore charges enter the vessel, as shown at 6 in Fig. 2, they are compelled to travel a distance of proterably twenty feet, and during this travel they are subjected to the heat produced by a converting-blest While acting on a bath of niarlc that purposely composed of ores such, for instance, as sultids, pyrrhotitcs, &c., that will furnish very high percentages of sulfur and iron and other oxidizablc elen'ients and compounds. We depend solely upon the heat thus produced to melt the entering ores, and in this Way W1 eliminate the expense oi l I] melting com: or other cz'irlmnaceous lucl. sulhd ores almost exclusively in. this primary lmtlb)roducin vessel and ii: roduci1w'thc l" I .l h

heat that results l'x-om this process our slugs and mnttcs will always be vcryiluid. They {low out together in, n coitl iruous stream at 7 through one axis ol' the converter cnd the same as they llow at pro-sort through the overflow-spoilt ol' the ordinary blast-furnace.

8 illustrates :1. short ovcrllow-spout which is preferably water-jacketod in order tosucccssi'ully Withsl'mid'thc cutting action of the molten bath.

9 illustrates a practically air-tight cover and drop-tube which isintcnded to retain the original heat of the molten slag and matte duriig their passage from the primary convcrtcrinto the iUIOlltlIth. The joint at 10 is practically air-tight in order to prevent the entrance of air and at the same time. to prevent any material escape of hot gases.

1! in Figs. 2 and 5 illustrates a rolling solid metal door, so arranged that it can be readily barred loo". and rolled to one side should the or matte (-ong'cal upon it. Its object is to permit the operator to conhe dischar e oi slag and hrougli the overliesor to bar loose any may form in this orisents the iorchearth.

the bottom oi the lorclieurth. a refractory bottom of the 1 may be used or not. as presrth preferably very et in di stricter, if circular, ong by eight or ten feet in *lfififlll'l. it is pref rsbl locks, for folio molten but u. Wllllill it: ll be pructicelly indestruccl'nlled secretions cannot EJ in the smelting operation, as the 1 WQBFG 2. waterjscsieted forchearth is .ver the entire surface of th forehecrth of'co'ngeeled slsgwillform nth, the same as does at presher i L forehesrths. This congealedi-ering forms a practically air-tight with the solid metal drop-tube 9, so he molten beth contained 111 the fore ii 12 itself. whether the some consist of or matte, or both, will be eflectuslly tlziezeaiter protected against the chilling effacts the atmosphere. We have found in our work that this chilling effect is very great and that it is one of the numerous causes udue losses of mineral values in the slug that 38 d ischerged to the dump.

in our present invei'ition we retain the inose heat of both the mat to and slag during fr trsvel through a. converter that is twenty in length. ihe molten bath of matte i exists continuously in the converter is than the comparatively ore tlutt enters through the inno that the ore is quickly con eel of the Inoll -n bulb. itsell, licbutli withoul o LitflhllflS- tem'giieruture. Wlu the matte until sing puss beyond the heating influence of t e crmfverting-l lust in the converter, and W men they drop from the overflow pout into the covered forehearth they are coi'itinuously protected against the chilling eil'wts ol the atmospl'icre. both in their fall and during their enttrsvol for e distance through the o J ed lorehesrth of approximately twenty This affords ideal conditions for the or! of all, mineral values contained in said it practically compels sill matte the bottom of the fore- "lh mid to join the body of molten matte. which they naturally have greater ailin- -n for tho itl the ori ice 6 of the eonvczter con stsnlly closed by the ore in its hopper 16, While the blsst is in operstion and with the bottom of it, and thus cause u it snull conserve the converter-slug entrance closed during the progress of setuel wor only two points of escape will remain for toe hot rises that are constantly produced in large volume through the converting action. The one point of escape is through the nose of the converter into the stack and the second point of ossiblc escape will be through the orifice 7. lirougb th latter they can only find their escsoe to the atmosphere after they have passe entirely under the congealed-slug covorin of the forebesrth and after they nave rescued the point of ultimate discharge of the Worthinasmuch as it is intended that the molten buih in the foreliciiitb shall be iii a tual contact with its congealed-slug covering, the escape of hot gases at this pointwill be uiumportunt. As before stated, these hot gases are produced in enormous volume and their exit from the converter is purposely choked in order to hold their heat Within the vessel. as a. means of fucilituting the process. This has the effect of creating considerable pressure within the converting vessel. Attention is called to the fact that the slugs and metres are thus maintained continuously at high temperatures until the point of ultimate discharge of the slag has been reached and also that these slugs are exclusively discharged from the surface of a body of low-grade matte. Particular attention is called to the fact that converter-slugs which may be high in mineral values are compelled totravel a, distance of approximately forty feet under the most favorable possible conditions of heat and fluidity a. means of forcing a good separation. When ultimately dis charged to the dun1p,tliey are thus discharged xclusively from the surface of u bodv of matte that is always low grade. These things taken together insure a better sepsrei ion, (-leztncr slugs, and much lower mineral losses than prevail in any present smelteru'orlt.

Fig 3 illustrates the method of delivering the blast to the Wind-box 12 it also shows the rack 19 and pinion 0, whereby the converter is turned on its axis.

Fig. 4 illustrates the general proportions of the converting vessel, the blast-entrance, the hydraulic power mechanism for revolving the converter, the overflow-spout, the covered drop-tube 9, and a. portion of the forehcsrth 12. i

Fig. 5 illustrates a detail of the drop-tube 9, us before explained.

22 in Figs. 1 and 6 designates s sepurute opening at the side of the opening 6, into which converter-slug derived from other converters in the series is poured in the molten state for the purpose of separating its contained mineral values.

Fig. 6 illustrates in plan view the orifice 22- end its heavy metal lid or door 21.

Fig. 7 illustrates the converter in end ele- KOO '. from convert er sla 1 1 Kat:

vation and showing the hopper and chute 16 for the delivery of the unlused ore into the converter that may be raised when the converter is rotated and that n'iay be lowered for the feeding of ore charges.

This method or" recovering mineral values e is broad n and as such we intend. claiming it. it constitutes the most ellieient method yet devised oi ac ,complisl'iing a close sej'mralion of mineral ,values contained in. convertcr-slags, inasmuch these converter-slags when poured into the opening ZZZ are compelled to lravel the entire twenty feet through the converter through the lorel'iearth and and thereafter the entire twenty foot home discharged from the latter always over low-grade mattcs The oriof preventing the escape of hot gases from the vessel, excepting when com-*crter-slag is being poured into it.

It Will he noted that under all ordinary circumstances this vessel Whilein actual operation will remain con tinuously in its uprigl'it position. 1t is only intended to be tipped or inverted like ordinary converters when it becomes necessary from any cause to empty it.

Doubtless many modificatimis will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit ol" our invention,

since What We cla11n1s- 1. The method ol" separating matte, which consists in supplying molten malle and ore to a converter, hlovving air therclhrmlg h, a!

discharging; the resultant matlc and slug;- im o a forehearth or sellling-chmnhcr; suhslnn ,tlally as described.

The method ol' separating matte, which consists in supplying molten matte and ore to a converter, hlovnng' air llicrothrmieh, and

discharging the resultanl mal to and slag into a separate chamber and therein scpmuuing the matte from the slag; suhslanl ially as dc- 3. The method of Healing: malugwhich consists 111 supplying mollcn matte to :1 con- 'vertcr, hcssemcrizing the mallc, supplying ore thereto, melting the ore hy the heat ol theconverting action, and discharging the resultant matte and slag into a sepa ate chamber and therein seyarating the mat to from the slag suhstantia ly as described.

4. The method ol smelting ore and separatlng matte, which consists in supplying a converter with a bath of molten nmtlo, hlow- "mg air thereinto, feeding unl'used, ore into such hath in lesser Volume relatively than the body ol the molten matte, oxidizing and melting said ore, and delivering toe resultant slag and matte into a separating vessel for emcee separa tion of the one l'ron ity; suhstantially as descri u.

5. The i'ncthod or smeitn 1g ore and super rating matte, which consis in J aiding; a converter with a molten hat 1 l; malt-e, loco 1g unluscd ore charges into ti converter at or near one 0 id, permitting such unfus ore to lloat in the direction of the opposie moi of the converting vessel while suhje (luring its travel to the heat produced by the converting action and permitting the resulta slag" and matte to overflow into a separ: vesse in vv'hieh the matte may he separa from the slugs hy gravity;- suhstantially as (lescril ied l' 6. The method of s1i1o"'ing ore and rating matte, which consist-s in providing a converter with a molten hath of matte, fecding unl'used ore charges in to the converter at or nearone end of the vessel, permitting such unfuscd ore to 'l'loat in the direction of the opposite end ol' the converting vessel "while subj ected during its travel to the heat produced by the converting action and permitting the resultant slag and matte to overflow eontinnously at the axis of the converter into a sepsi rating vessel in which the matte may he separated from the slag by gravity; substantially as (lescrilwd.

7. The method of smelling ore and separating matte, which consists in providing a converter with a molten hath ol' matte, feeding unl'uscd charges of sul'lid ore into the converter at or near one end ol the vessel, permittingsuch unlused ore to lloa'l; in the direc lion ol' the opposite end of the con vertingvew sol while subjected during its travel to the heat produced hy-the converting action. and permitting the resultant slag and. matte to ovcrllow continuously at the axis of the con verter into a separating vc sol in which the mallo may he soparaled from the by gravity; suhslantially as descrihed.

8. The method ol smelting ore and separaling mal'lo which consists in providing a converter with molten hath cl matte, 'lcerling such 'unlusod ore charges into the convertex" at or near one cud of the vessel, per mitting such unl'used ore to lloat in the direcl ion of the opposite end of the converting vosscl while suhjccled during its travel to the i hent produced hy the converting action and 'iermitlmg the resultant slag and matte to ovcrllon' continuously at the axis of the converter and :rotccting them from the chillin action ol the atmosphere during their travel from the interior of the converter into the in lerior ol the forchcarth, in which the matte may he separated from the slug lrv' gravity; suhstantially as descrihed.

9. The method of treating slag which censisls in hcssemerizing motto, movii'ig the slaj forwardly in con lull with said matte to rel-- cover the mineral vulucs, and discharging In testimony whereof We hav hereunto set 10 our hands.

RALPH BAGGALEY. CHARLES M. ALLEN. EDWARD W. LIN DQUIST.

Witnesses:

AZELLE E. HOBART, WiLLIAM M. KIRKPATRIQK. 

